Wedding photographers in Surrey

Wedding photographers in Surrey

According to a recent survey it has been estimated that Surrey County has close to 2000 photographers who specialise in weddings. This quite a great number and as a result of this it is quite difficult to find the right person for the job.  This may actually be one of the difficult steps in the wedding preparation process but it is possible to deal with this obstacle without necessarily going through so much stress. Since there are numerous people providing photography services in the area, then why is it a hassle to find the right guy?

In this case it is not just a matter of choosing a photographer but picking a person who has the passion to bring out the real mood of the ceremony. Wedding planners may not necessary hire the right person for the job but instead just go with someone who they always work with.  Getting the right candidate for the job is crucial because if the pictures taken are substandard it is not possible to rewind the ceremony again. The work should be done right the first time and there are some steps that you can take to ensure the vetting process runs smoothly.

Firstly you have to ensure that you are dealing with a professional so you need to check out portfolios as well as references.  Anyone could operate a camera and claim to be a photographer but by taking a look at a portfolio and speaking to a person, you can tell the difference between a professional and a masquerader.

Once you have made a shortlist of those you think are the best you can look at each of their styles and choose the one that would suit your theme.  Taking some time to look for the right photographer may seem like a farce but it is definitely bound to pay off in the long run.

The Right Wedding Photographer – Frequently Asked Questions

There are certain questions that need to be asked by the couple when seeking the right wedding photographer and below I have taken the liberty of highlighting these questions and giving the possible answers.

• About how much would it cost to pay for wedding photographs? There answer will vary here and the cost will actually be dependent on the amount of photographs that you will want in your album.  Most storybook albums range between 15 and 50 pages and this may cost you between 150 and 400 pounds. Any other charges will be for services rendered on the day and this is negotiable.
• Many photographers only take pictures until the cake cutting ceremony, is this norm?  Actually this happens a lot but it is not supposed to be the case. The photographer is usually hired for the day and should therefore be around until the wedding is generally over. Try and find a photographer who can work until the end of the ceremony.
• About how many pictures are suitable for the album? Well this varies from individual to individual but the average range would be between 100 and 150, considering that the photographer could take anything from 200 to 500 photographs.
• Is it possible to ask for all the photographs taken? Yes it is. However this will tend to crowd your album and also out of all the photos taken there are plenty that are not worth keeping.
• How can I be sure that the photographer I choose is the right one? Well, you will need to first talk face to face with the person and ask the necessary questions and thereafter look at their previous work.  Looking up references is also a good way of checking up on the quality of a photographers work.
• If the photographers work is good but we do not get along is it okay? Ideally it would be best to find a wedding photographer who is pleasant and gets along with you so as to make your big day more memorable. 

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Surrey Wedding Planning Essentials

Surrey Wedding Planning Essentials

The question has just been popped and after the celebration of a soon-to-be wedding, it begins to sink in that there is a great deal of planning to be done. In some cases this could lead to a panic of sorts; however, it is best to think things through and strategise in order to make things run smoothly.

Wedding Plan

 As a couple you need to come up with a plan that lists down all that it to be done and the amount of time required to complete all the preparations.  There are several template plans that can be found in bookstores or you can buy wedding planning software that you can install on your computer. This kinds of plans put almost everything into consideration and it is simply a matter of following up on issues and ensuring that deadlines are met.

Checklists

The best way to follow up if certain tasks have been done to completion is to always have a checklist within the wedding plan. By doing this you will be easily able to determine what has been done and what is remaining.

Attachments

Whether you have a manual or digital wedding plan it is important to attach any documents that pertain to the event. This includes things such as receipts, permits, licenses, fabric samples. Color scheme samples, card designs etc. having these items in a central place will make it easy when referencing. 

Personalize

If you are using a wedding plan template you should be able to customize it in a way that makes it more personal for you. Do not be afraid of making any additions where you feel necessary.

NB: As you prepare for the big day make sure that you put some time aside to relax because you may burn out before that big day arrives!

Things to Ponder when Planning a Wedding

Planning of a wedding can be complicated or simple depending on what preparations you make for the big ceremony. If you decide to make a logical plan well in advance, you will find that things tend to fall into place and any eventualities can be dealt with in good time. Preparation is the best way to make sure that a wedding ceremony is a success.

Wedding Planner

As much as it may sometimes seem unnecessary to hire some help for the planning it is wise to hire a wedding planner/coordinator if you can afford it.  This person will assist greatly in making your dream wedding come true. This is especially so when you do not have enough time to attend to certain issues and you have to let the coordinator follow up on things. 

Finances

It is vital to decide the amount you are willing to spend and this will be the basis of how big or small the wedding will be. Try to keep within your budget and make compromises if you can because some people have lavish weddings only to be steeped in debt after all the festivities are done. A good tracking record for expenses should be in place and this will help you not to overshoot your budget.

Location

Finding the right venue could be hectic but you will need to look around. Ensure that necessary bookings are done well in advance and if required get the necessary licenses or permits.

Bookings

There are a host of services that need to be booked in advance and these include: catering, D.J/Band, Photographers, transport and florists. Make all confirmations before hand to avoid any surprises.

Guest list

Sit down and come up with a list of expected guest and make sure that it is in line with the expected budget.

As long as a detailed plan is formulated and adhered to, you are good to go.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Surrey Wedding Make-up Steps

As the big ceremony approaches a lot of the bride’s thoughts concern how she will look on the wedding day.  The outward appearance is a major aspect of any wedding and wedding makeup plays a great role in the overall bridal outfit and there are several steps that need to be followed to when applying wedding makeup.

Face Preparation

• The face has to be properly cleaned and moisturized before the application process and make sure that the moisturizer used is specific to your skin type.
• The next step is to pick out the right foundation that will go with the tone of your skin. In case you are having a summer wedding, consider using   water resistant foundation.  It is also important to use foundation that is streak-proof to prevent makeup lines from showing.

Wedding Makeup for the Eyes

• Make sure that the area to be applied with make-up is hydrated using cream and then apply neutral eye shadow on the eyelid and on the lash line
• Use some mid tone hue on the outer corners of the eyes for some accentuation
• You can now apply some eyeliner and when doing this try apply it in a straight line
• If you have thick eyelashes use a curler and use a double mascara coat. If you are the type who cries a lot them the waterproof mascara would be the best option

Lips and Cheeks

• Make sure the colours chosen go well with the gown and uses some blusher for enhancement
• The lips should be prepared by first using lip balm. Moisturize and  exfoliate on a regular basis before the
• Use lip liner to mark the area where the lipstick will reach
• Apply the lipstick appropriately to fill in the marked area and choose a brand that ensures your lips are moisturized

Make sure that you do some trials before the big day so that you can be sure of the outcome and avoid any surprises.

Wedding Makeup – Things to consider

For anyone getting married the thought of what to expect on the big day constantly runs through the mind. Walking down the aisle, cameras flashing and generally all eyes on you! Along with a perfect gown hair and accessories, the bride’s wedding makeup should be totally up to scratch. It is important for your face to look its best on one of the most memorable days of your life.

Solar Effect

Make sure that you try as much as possible to keep of direct sun for prolonged periods of time. Sunburn, skin peeling or tan lines are not very flattering. If you need a tan on that day you can try a self tanner, tinted moisturizer and some bronzing powder.

Lights… Camera…

Always keep the cameras in mind and to begin with consider foundation and moisturizer with yellow undertones which works well for flash photography. Try as much as possible to avoid make up that is excessively glittery or foundation that has a light refracting properties because it could turn many of your photographs into a shimmering mess.  A matte finish for wedding makeup is more desirable for photos because it does not cause any reflection of light from the flash.

When powdering try and use a brush rather than a sponge or pad which could cause you to over-powder due to the smearing effect.

Eyes

Try as much as possible to use natural contouring colors together with brown or black eyeliner which gives a naturally sensual look. You can smudge the eyeliner a little bit so that it looks natural.

Lashes

Before anything make use of a lash curler which will help to add some length and neaten up the eye lashes. Add a single or double coat of water-resistant mascara. Let the initial coat set in first before adding the next one. This will help the lashes not to clump up.

Brows

Fill in any possible gaps in the eyebrows by using a high standard eyebrow pencil. Keep away from excessive use of eye shadow or eye pencil on the eyebrows because that is not their use.

Cheeks

Rosy tones are the best but use in moderation and do not add shimmery creams or powders.

If you’re looking for a wedding makeup artist in Surrey to help you with your bridal makeup, visit the Surrey Weddings directory to find a list of them waiting to help you.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Find your Perfect Wedding Dress – Part 2

In the first installation we had a look at several wedding dresses that can be considered by a bride on her big day. And just like the previous list I will combine traditional designs as well as some unconventional pieces.

Trumpet Silhouetted Gown

The modern wedding dress generally has a modern cut and a typical example is the trumpet silhouetted dresses which hug the hips and are flared at the bottom. They are incredibly sexy and they tent to complement the female shape very well.

High Hemline Gown

The brides of today are bolder and do not have qualms about expressing their style and femininity through their wedding dresses. The high hemlines are very sassy and fit the female form very well with great focus on the lower torso and hips. They are able have a sexy appeal without necessarily looking trashy. The varieties range from minis to sweeping gowns and it is up to the bride to decide which one fits best.

Tiered Dresses

This is probably the kind of dress every girl fantasized about getting married in and it would not harm to make the dreams come true.  Layering of fabric however has to be done professionally in order to confidently pull off the fantasy wedding look.

Strapless

The modern woman is hardly afraid of showing off some skin which has made strapless wedding dresses a favourite with many brides.  This is a stylish design that gives a woman confidence and while complimenting the curves of the body and giving a feminine touch.

Getting the right cut and fit is very important because it will determine whether it will drape well or not. Trying different gowns on is recommended because it is only when it is on your body that you can tell if it’s the right one for you or not.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Choosing Your Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

We have all grown up with the wedding poem, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But did you know the next line is “And a silver sixpence in her shoe”?  A sixpence is a British silver coin minted from 1551 to 1967.

All these items – old, new, borrowed, blue and a sixpence are supposed to be tokens of good luck for a happy marriage.  And knowing that, don’t you want to follow this nice tradition and enhance your own wedded “luck”?

 

Old
Something old has to do with the bride’s family continuing on and on; from the past and present into the future. It can also mean you are leaving your old life and joining your husband in a new life together. 

• A lace handkerchief from your grandmother that you can carry tucked in with your bouquet up the aisle. It will come in handy if you become joyfully teary.
• An old piece of jewelry from your mother or grandmother.  For example, you could wear an old wedding band on your other hand, or wear her brooch.
• Use your parent’s cake topper on your wedding cake.
• Wear your mother’s wedding dress or veil.

New
Something new represents hope and an optimistic outlook for the bride’s new life with her husband.

• Many of the items you are wearing are probably new – your wedding dress, your veil, your shoes.
• Wear new silky undergarments.
• Purchase jewellery just to go with your wedding dress.
• Get a new charm bracelet with charms that represent all that you and your fiance have experienced together so far.  Then you can add to it over the years and you’ll always remember where it came from.

Borrowed
Something borrowed should be something loaned from a happily married person – family or friend. They are loaning you the item with good wishes for your own happy marriage. It also reminds you that you can depend on them in the future.

• Ride to the wedding in your grandfather’s antique roadster.
• Wear a garter that your best friend wore.
• Borrow your mother’s pearl necklace.
• Use the hairpins your sister used in her wedding hairdo.

Blue
Something blue has a variety of meanings, but the colour blue has been associated with weddings through the ages.  Blue represents the Virgin Mary and virginity, staying true to your loved one, constancy, and modesty.

• Jewellery set with sapphires.
• A blue garter.
• Pale blue undergarments.
• One blue flower in your wedding bouquet.
• For fun, paint your toenails blue.

As far as the sixpence, it means a blessing for prosperity and future wealth.

• Tuck a symbolic coin into your shoe.
• Slip the coin into your purse.
• Or put it in the shoes you will wear upon leaving the reception.

Some items may fit into a couple of different categories and that’s perfectly fine. They should still bring you luck.  Here’s an example that could cover the first four categories:  wear an old, borrowed, blue garter and tie a miniature picture frame to it with a new picture of you and your beloved.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Disposable Wedding Cameras

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

History Of Wedding Favours

Wedding favours are popular at wedding receptions or parties almost everywhere. Their historical origin is unknown but there’s evidence that they have been popular around the world for a very long time.

There are many theories about what generated the tradition of giving wedding guests a favour for attending the service. Some say the tradition originated with the Romans in the 8th century. Another states that the Romans, during 400 B.C. started the practice of throwing rice and giving wedding favours to guests.

Almonds have been a traditional symbol of good luck and assurances for successful marriages for centuries. Originally, only the titled families followed this practice and their favours were often made of silver or gold. When the custom filtered down to the other social classes, by the end of the 19th century, almonds were distributed in golden paper boxes.

Supposedly, when the groom gave his friends walnuts, he was saying goodbye to his bachelor ways. Walnuts were thrown at the couple during the ceremony and eventually evolved into today’s practice of throwing rice at them.

There are reports from English royalty during the 15th century that they usually handed out symbolic almonds in small boxes of precious metal to guests. Across the Channel, during the Napoleonic era, friends exchanged boxes of almonds as a wish for good luck.

In Russia, the Czars celebrated the christening of their children by giving their relatives and friends specially designed boxes of gold filled with sweets.

Middle Eastern weddings today use Jordan almonds at most weddings to continue this ancient symbolic rite. Guests are given 5 Jordan almonds to represent traditional wedding wishes of fertility, health, wealth and a long life together full of happiness. The candy coating on the almond is said to represent both the bitter and the sweet side of marriage.

In Malaysia, the groom is likely to send wedding presents to his future bride. Children are the traditional bearers of the gifts, which usually include elaborately decorated trays of food, including origami made with currency that represent flowers and cranes. A Korean marriage custom of each guest receiving a beautifully decorated hard-boiled egg to represent fertility is a welcomed wedding favour.

Party Crackers were popular as wedding favours during the Victorian Era and are still used today as favours or for other festive occasions, particularly for the British Christmas season, but not exclusively. They are a popular treat for parties of any theme, especially at children’s parties.

Apparently they were invented by Tom Smith, a London pastry cook, in the 1840′s. On a trip to Paris he was fascinated by a French holiday practice of placing sweets and sugared almonds in a bit of twisted colored paper. He called his creation “Kiss Mottos” and did not have much success with them until he made the paper container pop or crack when it was pulled apart.

Today’s wedding receptions continue the practice of giving wedding favours to guests. Some are traditional, but it has often evolved into themed practices, like wine, hearts, flowers, etc. Seasonal themes are very popular at certain times of the year and are a perfect theme to use around Valentine’s day.

 

Personalised favours have a strong following and guests might receive a set of pens and pencils engraved with the date of the wedding or a shot glass engraved with the details. One thoughtful gift might be a small silver, engraved frame with a picture of the bride and groom.

The wedding favour tradition has definitely evolved into a successful industry that has provided a solution to the wedding favour quandary and the time-consuming task of choosing the right favour for your wedding.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

How to Make Your Wedding Reception Enjoyable For Everyone

Have you ever been to a wedding reception where guests sit around in little groups of people they know and no one mingles or looks like they’re having a very good time? And it’s all slightly awkward? Yep, I have too.  This is not how you want your wedding reception to go.  You want people to mingle and get to know each other, especially both sides of the two families involved.  Plus, you want everyone to have a good time.

Let’s explore ways to help your guests feel comfortable so they’ll relax, open up, and enjoy themselves.

1.  Start the bonding between families and friends at the hen night and stag party. That way the people at these events will have some common ground with each other when it comes time for the wedding reception.  Even if they didn’t previously know each other, they will now have some shared history.

2.  Music is important, even if you don’t plan to have dancing.  Keep it loud enough so that people can hear it, but not so loud they have to shout to be heard over it.  The type of music is important too. Make sure it’s light and uplifting.

3.  Have a slide show running on one wall featuring the bride and groom from babies to adulthood, lots of shots of friends and families, and as many funny (and potentially embarrassing) pictures as you can find.  This opens everyone up for a good laugh and brings out the conversation as the bride’s Mum tells the groom’s sister the story that led up to a certain picture, etc.

4.  Make the room on the smallish size.  If the room is huge and the number of guests small, they have plenty of room to go hide in the corners.  You want the room size to force them to be closer together so they will mingle. 

5.  Group dancing such as line dancing, the Stroll, the Hokey Pokey, and even the Bunny Hop get people together. The more ridiculous dances are usually good during the latter half of the reception after the ice has been broken.

6.  The dance with the bride (money dance) is a tradition for some families and one you should consider doing as it’s lots of fun and gets everyone involved.  Basically everyone lines up to dance with the bride and puts some money in the hat for the privilege to do so.

7.  A tango contest or limbo contest is another activity to try half way through the reception.  This can be hilarious and entertaining for everyone, not just those who are involved.  Be sure to have someone video tape it as you might end up with some footage suitable for the You’ve Been Framed show.

8.  Give the loners at your reception a job to do. You can assign these guests disposable cameras and ask them to be in charge of getting some candid shots during the reception.

These are some ideas to help you have a reception where your guests feel comfortable and have a good time. Keep these in mind and your reception may be talked about fondly for years to come.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Wedding Dresses in Surrey

Your wedding dress is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. Everyone is waiting to see what your dress will look like. As well as being the centrepiece to your wedding, it needs to be comfortable as you’ll be wearing it for many hours.

To get the wedding dress you really want, take a look at our wedding dress page for wedding dress designers and retailers.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Wedding Expenses – Who Pays For What?

Once you decide to get married and have a date set, the next big task is creating a reasonable budget for the big day. One of the early decisions will have to be the type of wedding you want: formal, informal, etc. Traditionally the bride’s father paid for everything, but that task is now being shared by both sets of families or the bride and groom alone, if they have money of their own. The rigid, traditional lines have disappeared.

Family members and friends with specific skills might contribute to the wedding ceremony by making the bride’s wedding dress or baking and decorating the wedding cake. Another with a very green thumb might create the flower arrangements or the bride’s bouquet. Weddings are happy occasions in most families and relatives and friends would be happy to be a real participant in the event.

Here are some traditional guidelines for the usual division of payment in traditional weddings. Again, these are only suggestions.

Normally, anything to do with the bride’s dress or appearance is the responsibility of the bride’s family. That includes the bride’s wedding dress, headdress or jewellery. Also the bride’s responsibilities, or that of her family, are the bridesmaid’s gifts and bouquets, corsages for their grandmother and the flowers for the ceremony and the reception.

The decorations for the ceremony, like altar baskets filled with flowers in the bride’s colours or portable arches, are the obligation of the bride’s family. These decorations can include candelabras and kneeling benches for the ceremony. If the wedding is taking place outside, a canopy and carpet for the walk to the altar would be part of the bride’s expenses. Simply put, any rentals for either the ceremony or the reception would be paid for by the bride or her family.

During the initial planning for the wedding the bride will select, order and pay for the announcements, invitations and wedding programs, including any special napkins, matches or printed materials for the reception.

Both the bride and the groom buy the rings for each other, along with the traditional wedding gift they each exchange.

Traditionally, the groom pays for the bride’s bouquet, his own boutonniere and those for his groomsmen and ushers. He is also responsible for the corsages worn by both mothers. The groom pays for the marriage license and carries it with him to the ceremony.

He is also responsible for paying the clergyman’s fee or that of the public official that performs the ceremony, though often the Best Man actually delivers the money to the clergyman.

The bride pays the church or chapel fee for the ceremony and for the reception, including the church janitor for the cleanup after. The bride pays for any music or photography for either location, including the church soloist or musician and band or DJ for the reception.

The wedding cake and any wedding favours for the guests are the bride’s expenses.

Some weddings are loaded with breakfasts, luncheons and dinners to help celebrate some aspect of the approaching nuptials. Who hosts and pays for each one could get confusing. The traditional arrangement is the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner while the bride and her family are responsible for bridesmaid’s luncheons, the wedding breakfast, and the bridal brunch.

Finally, the groom pays for limousine service and the honeymoon details, while the bride handles accommodations for out-of-town guests.

While those divisions of responsibility are traditional and based on old habits carried down through the decades, today’s weddings are not so strictly traditional. Whatever works for the couple is just fine.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

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